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Cooperative effort is necessary to address homelessness

The number of homeless individuals is staggering, evidenced by our street corners, shopping centers, and parking lots peppered by those ever-familiar signs needing work, shelter, food, or all three.

I would ask state Sen. Debbie Mayfield, Mayor Harry Howle and Vero City Council members, Indian River County commissioners, non-profits whose mission is empowering the homeless, Treasure Coast Community Health, motels, Harvest Food and Outreach Store, mental health professionals, doctors, GoLineIRT, small-business owners, law enforcement, Work Force Development, et al.: Are any of these represented personally in one task force meeting actively to take concrete steps to solve this issue? If not, your time has come.

Together you must Identify every unfulfilled need and fill it! Together, we can do this! We, the people, can help! Bureaucracy and funding are audacious excuses. IRC is wealthy. It takes insight and real problem-solving solutions to create change, one step at a time. Please cut through your perceived or real red tape! Need volunteers? Recruit us!

Has any organization created a database of employers who pay by the day and have you met personally, face-to-face, with those on the streets?

Has any organization met personally, providing a transit map, and teaching individuals how and where to "catch a bus ride”?

What is the intake process? Is it duplicated? Among all of you, discuss your services and design just one form,accessible to all who need it, which accommodates all of you! There are many altruistic programmers, make it happen. Include a shared-use statement to cover health-privacy laws.

What's in place to clear out drifters?

We need alternative shelter options!

We need every leader innovative! No comfort zones! No excuses! Why isn't this issue on the city's agenda? Are we really "that county" accepting this?